Rand murder suspect among those indicted

ByStaff reports

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Rand man accused of gunning down his friend in the street in February is among 78 people indicted by a Kanawha County grand jury this week.

Tremale Leon Straughter, 29, of Bluefield Avenue, was indicted on charges of murder and wanton endangerment in connection with the shooting death of Harold Donovan "Don Don" Taylor Jr., 29, on Feb. 14. Kanawha County sheriff's deputies alleged Straughter shot Taylor at least 25 times with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol following an argument.

Multiple witnesses told deputies Straughter opened fire on Taylor with multiple weapons as Taylor was in a car on Emory Avenue. The witnesses said Straughter then got into his own car, circled the block and came back to shoot more rounds into the vehicle.

Neighbors said Taylor and Straughter grew up together in Rand and were lifelong friends. Both were allegedly involved in drug dealing.

Straughter is to report to Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey at 9:30 a.m June 6.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt; it is a formal accusation of a crime.